Climate change is blamed more and more for extreme weather

Scientists have been warning for decades that human caused climate change will bring an increase in extreme weather and it seems that our carbon chickens are now coming home to roost.

Hurricane Sandy was arguably one the most dramatic extreme weather event in 2012 but there was fierce competition for that title as, around the world, extreme weather destroyed communities and devastated lives.

This year has barely begun and already we have seen record-breaking heat in Australia, flooding in Africa and Indonesia and drought in India.

So can these events really be directly attributed to climate change?

As the body of evidence grows, the scientific community is increasingly acknowledging the links between current extreme weather and climate change.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology described this year’s record-smashing heat wave in Australia as consistent with climate change. Speaking about the floods that followed, Professor John Nott told the New Scientist that Australia might be experiencing a "double whammy" of climate change and natural variability, driving wetter conditions.

The most recent study of climate extremes found that record-breaking monthly temperature records are already occurring five times more often than they would without human caused global warming and there is an 80% chance that any monthly heat record today is due to climate change. The authors of the study also suggested that, unless we take steps to significantly reduce human greenhouse gas emissions, by 2040 the frequency of monthly heat records will become 12 times the rate to be expected in a non-warming world and we will be able to blame more than 90% of heat records on global warming.

The UK Met Office recently analysed data from 11,000 precipitation stations around the world, looking specifically at how extreme events have changed between 1901 and 2010. Although there are gaps in the data which means that the coverage is still insufficient to provide a truly global picture of changes, it concluded that in large areas of the world, the number of days with heavy rainfall and the amount of rain that falls during such events have both increased in the last 60 years.

In fact, it is fair to say that all weather events are now affected by climate change, as the environment in which they occur is warmer and moister. As the planet heats, weather patterns are destabilised. Warm air sucks more water from the ground and holds more water, contributing to droughts in some areas and torrential rain in others. Every event has a complex set of causes, but central to these is an increased global average temperature. In that sense there is no longer any such thing as a “natural” (pre-warming) event -- all weather is influenced to some degree.

The disasters the world is experiencing now are happening at a time when the average global temperature has increased by 0.8ºC. They are just a taste of our future if greenhouse gas emissions continue to balloon.

The fossil fuel industry has always shown scant regard for this unfolding global disaster but is now taking that disregard to a whole new level. There are plans for 14 new massive coal, oil and gas projects around the world that would produce as much new carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2020 as the entire US, and delay action on climate change for more than a decade.

Continuing on this pathway will make it difficult, if not impossible, to prevent the widespread and catastrophic impacts of climate change. The costs will be substantial: billions spent to deal with the destruction of extreme weather events, untold human suffering, and the deaths of tens of millions.

The world is clearly at a Point of No Return: either replace coal, oil and gas with renewable energy, or face a future turned upside down by climate change.

With science having been warning for decades in 2013 more than 50% of US-Americans are said to NOT believe in man-made global heating.

Ma...

With science having been warning for decades in 2013 more than 50% of US-Americans are said to NOT believe in man-made global heating.

May I ask what Greenpeace did during recent years?

And to whom Greenpeace-campaigns where adressed to?

Sun Wu, godfather of RW III

PS:
"...Christian Brütsch, an independent political analyst specialised on energy issues doubts that Shell can be pressured to disengage from the Arctic region soon....

Brütsch said that if activists really wanted to prevent the exploitation of natural resources in the Arctic they should target consumers. “Energy companies will only leave the region if the demand for oil sinks to a level where Arctic adventures would become unprofitable...”

http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/01/dubious-awards-presented-at-davos/

PPS: just have a look at Japan where Greenpeace proved Brütsch to be right.

Greenpeace has never asked for GREEN whalemeat.

Greenpeace asked to STOP buying whalemeat...as I was told successfully.

Warehouse are said to be full, with whalemeat being given away for free to get rid of it since nobody really wants it.

Just imagine Shell giving away its kerosene for free because DOCTOR Naidoo and Joel Stewart stopped to fly?

Post a comment

OPTIONAL: Register to avoid filling out forms each time you post a comment
Sign Up Here
login via Facebook or Google

Grateful Child
says:

Thanks very much Stephanie for a very comprehensive and commanding reality. Clearly we are at a point of no return.
So sad to see you with yo...

Thanks very much Stephanie for a very comprehensive and commanding reality. Clearly we are at a point of no return.
So sad to see you with your attempted mockery of all these good people in here again Sun Wu. I'm sorry, but I'm not going to encourage you by taking apart every absurd notion you flout. I've already answered much of this anyway, and it's becoming quite repetitive.
I'm wondering if you're ever going to say something helpful, and without anger and mockery. Are whales just numbers to you? Isn't it your Love for these beautiful creatures what causes you to wish their suffering to end, what is your reason? Isn't your Love and Stephanie's, Kumi's, Andrew's, JulietteH's, Joel's, the same, ...that you would do your best to provide a safe and beautiful world for the future of our children? And if Love is your reason then, then show some, ...to every person, whether you agree with them or not. Is it your intention here to help us, or just to think of yourself? It's simple enough, ...it works both ways, ...show some respect, or you will never receive any. No friends, no one that wants to listen to you, or what you might have to say? It's the end result every time. You're a smart guy, you should see this. Show me the Love, ...and make it real. Ours is, ..even now for you. We would help you if we could. Do you feel the same? Don't you think you should.
I apologize to you Stephanie for going off subject a bit, and it won't go any further. This is a very important article you wrote and a message we all on this earth needs to hear. Thank you again for your obvious deep Love and concern for the future of our world and it's children.

Post a comment

OPTIONAL: Register to avoid filling out forms each time you post a comment
Sign Up Here
login via Facebook or Google

(Unregistered) Sun Wu
says:

Of course DOCTOR Naidoo can continue climbing on oil-rigs... (don't miss to follow RW in NZ), but you will have to live with a lack of public inte...

Of course DOCTOR Naidoo can continue climbing on oil-rigs... (don't miss to follow RW in NZ), but you will have to live with a lack of public interest (do you know Inflation)...

...and with me attacking you on your website.

Sun Wu

PS: MAKE BANNERS, NOT WAR...a huge banner ready on RW, just in case Watson decides to use Greenpeace for media-coverage.

If I where him I would do it!

Looks like 'no compromise' is not going all that well at the moment. They are down to legal games, something not very atractive to the average militant vegan.

Is whales only numbers to me? Grateful Dead, didn't I say to finally face Watson? I do believe this is how you end Japanese whaling...there is 5000 tons of frozen whalemeat in the warehouses. Come on guys, this would be a homerun if you provide THE loophole to save an Asian face.

Post a comment

OPTIONAL: Register to avoid filling out forms each time you post a comment
Sign Up Here
login via Facebook or Google

(Unregistered) katara
says:

Women and Climate change responsibility . We women of the world accepted and accept today to be blind

We are kind women, the most numer...

Women and Climate change responsibility . We women of the world accepted and accept today to be blind

We are kind women, the most numerous. We are formatted by societies, whatever model : religious, ethnical, ancient or so-called modern ... to create happiness and harmony within the limited boundaries of our relatives . We are also often the most benevolent force at work. Very few risk of hazard, jeopardy, conflict with us. It is the self-conservation instinct of our little tribe which guides us . We cannot or do not want to see beyond …

Marina lives in a little town in the North of Italy . She has her family there, she is also the mayor of the town. This little part of the world is her only area of focus She anticipates with optimism that climate change will bring her soon people on holiday yearning for some fresh and cool air. People coming from all megapolis of the world where heat waves will be soon unbearable, much sooner than what TV and social networks claims in most countries of our Orwellian world. In less than 50 years, she says, our industrial wastelands which have been broken by globalization maelstrom, will become a Mediterranean holiday garden. She is blind about the environmental issues that hers sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters will experience.

Liu is a beautifully looking Chinese girl. She never gets out without being perfectly well-dressed and made-up. She hardly ever saw one little square of blue sky in Beijing where she studied. Blue sky over the London roofs enchants her. She is 30 years old. It has been 8 years now that she tries to settle in London, from one temporary job to another one , although security is all what matters to her. Why does not she consider going back to China ? She is always cheerful, she is always in a hurry even more so than my American girl friends. She never finds her way in the big foreign city. She is a hard worker, efficient and pragmatic, always seemingly looking forward but actually ignoring her goal. She is almost completely blind. We speak about the thick grey cloud which suffocates such a large part of the Chinese territory at all moments of the year since the 90’s . She says so then “ My parents are very smart, they have bought a little flat for their retirement in a little paradise, an island in the far south of China, no pollution there.”
Even if we are kind women, we have become blind female animals, material girls like Madonna was singing it, in a global MoneyforMoneyWorld. Each one of us thinks that SHE INDIVIDUALLY has her own key to save herself and her tribe from the consequences of the severe damages we do to our mother planet.
Sue has thrown herself into faith like into a lifebelt. I can never capture her eyes when she speaks to me. Her hasty flow of words hits me like the balls of a Tommy gun. She should deserve my empathy and respect however. Nasty Me. Sue is a hard worker as a nurse and a respectable Christian mother. She breeds 3 kinds, her husband is far from being always kind to he.. Her life pace is awfully speed and tough. Her protestant shepherd told her. “ God created our world and God will end it, not human actions.”. She finds it reassuring . not me.
Charlotta enjoys a successful life with high social visibility. She has worked hard at school to become a top manager in a big company. She is a recognized executive while she has managed to raise 4 kids, or seemingly raised them. She embodies the ultimate dream of almost every single woman in the Western world and in China. Charlotta like Sue deserves respect. She could have let herself go quietly with the flow. Her husband is even more an achiever than her. He has created his own business, he is rich and famous. As advertising was telling in the 80’s she wanted it all and she got it all. Alarm-bell. yet. She is so speed that she is not audible when she speaks. Her career is hatched. She flies from one prestigious job to another one in less than 2 years, our superwoman has her limits. She is such a nice girl, she did not froze her heart into an ice cocoon like many power women. She takes care about others who are less lucky . She also teaches reading and writing to poor foreigners voluntarily. For her, climate change is a manipulation from Greenpeace and other green lunatics.

And all these feminist women thinkers, writers, novelists who think that their brilliant speeches are going to bring a feminine major change for better to the world. Like Marx, Lenine , Staline and a bunch of other mad men they believe that human nature can improve in the future, especially if influenced by women. What about not hoping for a better female future, but acting now to avoid ruining completely earth and humanity?

Women dreams are unfortunately well entrenched in their smartly formatted global brains : be THE ONE, the most beautiful, the wealthiest., experience a lot of good sex. What is really quantitative good sex for us, let’s look at it deeply in our body and heart ????
Our ultimate drive has always been “ be a beautiful princess and then a queen”, even when some of us reach 60 years old, even when most of us cannot breathe anymore in MEGALOCITIES. We women have lost our animal/species instinct of survival. Can it still be awaken ? Are we going to pretend not to see until the day, not far now, that we have to find yuans or dollars to be able to breathe ?

I do not believe in my heart and with my reason that we women were or are victims, at least in a majority of countries in the world . We are supposed to be responsible people just like men, entitled to vote since the 40’s or 50’s in most countries. Have we really acted as responsible individuals when we voted since more than half a century ? Or did we just let us being seduced by some male charisma and emotional speeches ? What about our capacity to be cool and rational ?

I do not believe that we are better people than men. In general we are more clever at manipulating others to get what we want.
What if we, ordinary women, who make 80 % of purchases in the world, what if we decided to purchase with conscience : brands with proven, independently audited engagement towards Home Restorement?
What if we fought against the roots of destruction within our families and really partnered with our companions ?
What if we managed a bit better our infinite sexual power over men which lead them to so many delirious constructions, wars or drugs?
What if we did not listen any more to authorities and media harassing us with nationalist and/or religious identities : Chinese, Japanese, Jewish, Muslim, Christian... using this to instil hatred between natural brothers and sisters, to keep us separate from our real common issues ?
We are all potential mothers in a Small Global Home today. Home is in danger. Obama said in November 2012 that he understood the urgent need to act now to try to repair what can still be repaired, more climate catastrophes avoided . BUT clean energy programs are still at a standstill in the US. With Obama’s blessing oil companies are destroying our Home Vital Frozen Reserve in Arctic, to extract any single gulp of petrol and gas always deeper, harming worse and worse Home. Home needs her two white poles to remain balanced or else she might kill us much quicker than what scientists and climate catastrophe movies predict.

What if we stopped encouraging our men to buy the most powerful and heaviest consuming car or motorcycle because we believe that we are better protected in a big car and because it makes us proud of our macho ? We love so much to believe that we are protected by a man, by men organisation. Protection has become for most of us only a reassuring fantasy since a very long time.
We also still have some responsibility in educating our kids don’t we ?

Post a comment

OPTIONAL: Register to avoid filling out forms each time you post a comment
Sign Up Here
login via Facebook or Google

(Unregistered) 3l7v
says:

I am totally unable to understand your attitude of climate change. CO2 has nothing to do with climate change. CO2 in air is the only and the lonely so...

I am totally unable to understand your attitude of climate change. CO2 has nothing to do with climate change. CO2 in air is the only and the lonely source of food for the whole kingdom of vegetation. every plant absorbs CO2 in air, takes carbon as the basic and essential source for its food next releases oxygen back to air. Consequently, whenever any animal and every human being open his mouth to eat anything, the source of this food is CO2 in air.

Climate change is due to our increase of energy consumption, we have now more cars, more chimneys, and more industries, all these are dumping in air extra heat through their exhaust.

Now you are claiming to be a protector of the environment, however your understanding is totally irrelevant and wrong. CO2 in air is the primary source of our food, climate change is due to the excess of dumping hot exhaust gases in air.